MINNEAPOLIS — Ray Edwards ended Dallas’ first drive with a sack and fumble, recovered by teammate Kevin Williams.

It was a sign of things to come for the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive line, who did their best impersonation of the legendary Purple People Eaters.

“Our game plan was to stop the run and put (Dallas quarterback Tony Romo) in a position where he had to take some chances,” Williams said. “Then we just got after him. You could see he wasn’t looking downfield, he was looking at us.”

Spurred by a deafening home crowd Sunday, the Vikings used six sacks and three turnovers to defeat Dallas 34-3 in the NFC Division Playoffs at Metrodome. It was the first postseason victory for coach Brad Childress and returned the Vikings to the NFC Championship game for the first time in nine seasons.

“It was a very satisfying win for our football team,” Childress said. “I know it’s trite, but the (entire) team did a great job.”

The Cowboys dominated early, but two drives ended in Vikings’ territory, one on a sack and fumble caused by Ray Edwards and the next on a missed field goal from 48 yards by Steve Suisham.

The Vikings capitalized on the miss by scoring in four plays, with Brett Favre extending his NFL record of 19 consecutive postseason games with a touchdown pass by hitting Sidney Rice with a 47-yard bomb down the right sideline. Ryan Longwell’s kick made it 7-0 with 4:04 remaining in the first quarter.

“Brett put the ball in a perfect spot,” Rice said. “The safety wasn’t looking, and the ball dropped into my hands.”

The Cowboys got inside the Vikings’ 10 early in the second quarter but had to settle for a 33-yard field goal by Suisham that cut the lead to 7-3.

The Vikings answered with a more methodical drive, but it ended the same way. The nine-play, 80-yard march was capped by a 16-yard pass from Favre to Rice, with Longwell’s kick making it 14-3 with 7:23 to play in the half.

A sack by Jared Allen and fumble recovery by Ben Leber set up a short field for the Vikings, and Longwell’s 24-yard field goal added to the lead.

“We heard all the nonsense and hype of  Dallas coming to town, and I told the guys to choke it back and shut up,” Childress said. “Games are always won on the football field.”

Field position was the key to the third quarter, and Ben Leber’s interception put the ball at Dallas’ 15. On the second play of the fourth quarter, Longwell’s 27-yard field goal made it a three-possession lead at 20-3.

The Vikings finished off the Cowboys midway through the fourth quarter when an 86-yard, seven-play drive ended with another Favre-to-Rice touchdown, this time from 45 yards, and the lead bulged to 27-3.

“There are faster guys, there are taller guys, there are quicker guys, but the thing about Sidney is that he wants to be good,” Favre said. “It matters to him.”

Favre hooked up with tight end Visanthe Shiancoe on an 11-yard touchdown with 1:55 remaining to make the final 34-3. Favre finished with 15 completions in 24 attempts for 234 yards and four touchdowns. Rice had six receptions for 141 yards with the three scores.

“I was thinking last night that when I look back on my career, I’ll remember the 40-year-old year,” Favre said. “I feel like I’m playing the same way (as when I was younger) with the same enthusiasm. When I’m out there, the enthusiasm and passion is real. I know the guys feed off that, and the fans like watching that.”

The defense allowed only 248 yards of offense, with 118 yards in the first quarter. Edwards had three sacks, while Allen, Chad Greenway and Jimmy Kennedy each made one. Leber had an interception and fumble recovery as the Vikings cooled one of the hottest offenses in the last month.

“Our defense was stifling,” Childress said. “We chased (Romo) around all day long, and we took care of the run game.

“Ray Edwards was amped up, along with Jared Allen. If you can get the quarterback to move his feet in the pocket, you have a chance. Hits wear out a quarterback, and sometimes that’s not measured by sacks but by knock downs.”

The Vikings (13-4) play in the NFC Championship game 5:40 p.m. Sunday at New Orleans. The Vikings lost in the conference title game in 1998 and 2000 seasons and haven’t been to a Super Bowl in 33 years.

“This is a special team,” Favre said. “It’s been everything I thought it would be and more. I’ve had a lot of fun, and now we have a chance to play in the championship game and go to a Super Bowl. It’s been awesome.”